Break-ins trigger lock-up warning

Mackay police are warning residents to better secure their property after an increased number of opportune break and enters.

Detective Acting Sergeant Lisa Elkins says while property crime overall is on the decrease, the number of thefts as a result of people not locking their homes or cars is worrying.

She says while a number of people have been arrested for these offences, the nature of the crime means it will continue to happen if residents are not more cautious.

"Because people are leaving their keys in their car or their houses unlocked these are more crimes of opportunity and more spur of the moment," she said.

"We don't think there's a group of people, we've arrested people for individual ones but we don't think they're linked."

She says the laid-back nature of security in Mackay needs to be a thing of the past.

"Probably in the last month ... we noticed people have been leaving things unlocked," she said.

"I grew up in Mackay so I understand the mentality of throwing the keys on the floor of the car and leaving your house unlocked when you leave but unfortunately with the population booming to over 100,000 we don't have that luxury any more."